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Greg Benson

Tucson artist Greg Benson received a B.S. degree in studio art from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, in 1972. He is the founding member of Dinnerware Artists Cooperative, a non-profit exhibition space in Tucson. Since 1975, Benson has been working on an ongoing series of mixed media works on paper and unstretched canvas. The boats, planes and cars Benson depicts are meant as symbols of mobility. Objects such as figures, animals and trees are isolated in his images, which allow the viewer to see each separate form from a different angle of vision. His work is characterized by an aerial perspective that is often found in naive or primitive art. 

Statement: "From the desert where I live, I study Western man. As a result of study and observation, ideas emerge and the painting comes. Each painting is a renewal of my pursuit to visually define Western man: who we are, what I am.?My great-grandfather was a full-blooded Cherokee, my grandmother a half-breed Shawnee. My father was a first generation American, a Swede. I am intrigued with the real history of America and I pursue this research with a passion and continually include my findings in my paintings."

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180w x 180h cm

EDUCATION

1972 BA in Studio Arts, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana

COLLECTIONS

Insurance Company of North America, Tucson, Arizona
Illinois Bell Telephone, Chicago, Illinois
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
Amerind Foundation, Dragoon, Arizona
Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Supercuts, Inc., San Francisco, California



SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006     Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002    "Variations on a Theme..." featuring Greg Benson & Cynthia Miller,

             Eleanor Jeck Galleries, Tucson, AZ
1999     Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997    "Homage to Basho", Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas
1996    Eleanor Jeck Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1995     Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995    Meier Gallery, Houston, TX
1994     Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1993    Davis Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1992    Bridget Schlugn Gallery, Denver, CO
1992    Davis Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1991    Davis Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1991    Keyes Lee Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
1990    Davis Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1989    Keyes Lee Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
1989    Coyote Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1988    Davis Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1988    Coyote Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1988    West First Street Gallery, Mesa, Arizona
1987    Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1985    Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1983    "Old West Not Old West; Old West Isn't", Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1982    Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1981    "The Saints", Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1980    Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery, Tucson, Arizona

 

 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011    Rarity Summer Salon Show, Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
2010    Rarity Summer Salon Show, Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece
2006    "Scapes," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005    "Painting the Town Red," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
2004    "Out of the Blues," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000    "Celebrating 20 Years," Eleanor Jeck Galleries, Tucson, AZ
1998    "Primary Colors," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998    Eleanor Jeck Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1997    "Silver and Gold", Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997    Eleanor Jeck Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1996     Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1996     Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, TX
1996    Eleanor Jeck Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1995    Eleanor Jeck Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1994    "Preview Exhibition," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, IL
1993    "Figure the Figure", Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1992    "Southwest Missions", Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, Arizona
1990    "Earth Week Celebration", William Campbell Contemporary Art,

Fort Worth, Texas
1989    "22nd Southwest Invitational", Yuma Art Museum, Yuma, Arizona
1988    "Southwest Artists Create Masks and Costumes", Old Pueblo Museum, Tucson, Arizona
1987    Humor in Art", Arizona Childrens Museum, Mesa, Arizona
1987    "20th Southwest Invitational", Yuma Art Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Prescott Art Center and                         Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona
1987    "75th Anniversary of Arizona Statehood", State Capitol Building, Phoenix, Arizona
1987    "Valentine Exhibit", William Campbell Contemporary Art, Fort Worth, Texas
1987    "Cow Poke", Fina Colada Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
1986    "Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery Traveling Exhibit", sponsored by the Arizona Commission of                            the Arts, showed at various museums and art centers throughout the state
1985    "100th Anniversary Invitational", University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
1985    "Indiana Artists", Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
1985    "50th Anniversary Salt River Project", Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
1984    "18th Southwest Invitational", Yuma Art Museum, Yuma, Arizona
1983    "Dinnerware Artists Co-op Gallery Traveling Exhibit", sponsored by the Arizona Commission of                            the Arts, showed at various museums and art centers throughout Arizona, Montana, and Nevada
1982    "Tucson Biennial", Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
1982    Meridian Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1980    "Arizona Sculpture Invitational", Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. Arizona
1980    "Tucson Biennial", Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona
1979    "National Art Round-up", Las Vegas Museum of Art, Las Vegas, Nevada
1978    "Phoenix Biennial", Phoenix Museum of Art, Phoenix, Arizona
1978    Holly Solomon Gallery, New York, New York

 

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145w x 115h cm

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125h x 187w cm

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170w x 120h

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170h x 120w

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